Mere Assault On Woman Without Specific Overt Act Towards Commission Of Rape, Is Not Attempt To Rape: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that an assault on a woman, in the absence of any specific overt act towards the commission of rape, would not by itself constitute an attempt to rape.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava altered the conviction of a man from attempt to rape under Sections 376/511 of the Indian Penal Code to the offence of outraging the modesty of a woman under Section 354 IPC.The appeal was filed against a 2005 judgment of the Additional Sessions Judge,...

LiveLaw High Courts Daily Highlights: August 20, 2026

Links to Top Picks of August 20:Law Department Must Not Succumb To Pressure From Other Departments: Bombay High Court Rejects Delayed State Appeal 'Not Expected From Senior Advocate': P&H High Court Expresses Concern Over Lawyer's Remarks Against JudgeOrissa High Court Orders Interview For Candidate In 2023 District Judge Exam After Her Marks Found To Be 'Manipulated'No Vigilance Probe Against DGP S. Sreejith Warranted As Of Now: Kerala High Court ToldKarnataka High Court Flags 'Misuse' Of...

Calcutta High Court Judge Recuses From Sujit Bose's Bail Plea After Counsel Tried To Access Case Record With Her Secretary's Help

The Calcutta High Court has recused itself from hearing a bail application filed by former West Bengal minster Sujit Bose after the Judge alleged that one of the counsel appearing for Bose, along with the Judge's private secretary, attempted to access the case record from the Judge's chamber after the matter had been reserved for judgment.The matter concerns an application for bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.The matter was reserved for judgment on...

District Collector Can't Challenge Govt Order, Bound By State's Hierarchical Decision: AP High Court

Dismissing pleas by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the District Collector challenging a GO granting ryotwari patta rights, the Andhra Pradesh High Court held that the District Collector designated by government to perform statutory duties, cannot file a writ petition against the Government's own revisional order.“An Officer designated by the Government to...

Burns Accidental As Per Dying Declaration: Punjab & Haryana High Court Acquits Man Of Dowry Death After 22 Years

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted a man who was convicted in a 1998 dowry death case, holding that the prosecution must first establish the foundational ingredients of Section 304-B IPC before the statutory presumption under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act can be invoked.Justice Mandeep Pannu observed that where the deceased herself had consistently stated, immediately after sustaining burn injuries and subsequently in a dying declaration recorded by a Judicial Magistrate, that...

'Govt Recognition' Means Recognition By Indian Authorities; Certificate From Nepal Institute Not Valid For PDS Licence: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that where eligibility for a Public Distribution System (PDS) licence requires an educational certificate recognised by the “Government”, the expression refers to the Government of India or authorities within India or under its control.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Girijish Kumar upheld the rejection of a candidate whose computer certificate had been obtained from an institute in Nepal.The petitioner had applied for a licence for a vacant PDS shop and submitted a...

If Same Sex Partners Can Be In Relationship, Why Deny Them Choice To Give Medical Consent For Each Other? Delhi High Court Asks

The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned that if same sex partners have the right to relationship and live together, why should they be denied the choice to give medical consent for each other.Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the remark while questioning the Central Government for failing to reply, despite lapse of an year, to a plea seeking framing of guidelines to recognise non-heterosexual partner of a patient as their medical representative and to give consent in medical...

Prayagraj Waterlogging | Allahabad High Court Orders Deployment Of Pumps In Affected Areas, Gives 24-Hour Deadline To Clear Water

Hearing the suo moto PIL concerning the severe waterlogging crisis in Prayagraj due to incessant rain, the Allahabad High Court today directed the Municipal Corporation, Prayagraj, to ensure that sufficient water pumps are deployed on the ground so that all low-lying areas of the city facing waterlogging issues are cleared within the next 24 hours.A Bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad passed the directions today while hearing the suo motu proceedings concerning waterlogging...

Right To Marry Human Right, Post-Divorce Marriage Valid When Appeal Was Dismissed For Default: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently held that a re-marriage that took place post-divorce was valid when the appeal against the order of divorce was dismissed for default. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 400]. The bench of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice MD Sumathi noted that when there was no stay on the divorce order, the status of the woman was that of a “divorced woman” and she was thus entitled to remarry. The court thus refused relief to a husband, dismissing an appeal against the order of...

'No Action Against Consensual Sex Work': Chhattisgarh High Court Quashes Immoral Trafficking Case Against Sex Worker

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that where it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is participating with consent, the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action. The Court observed that continuation of the criminal proceedings based on such a basis would amount to subjecting a woman to the very harassment against which the Supreme Court had issued specific directions.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal was...

Caste Certificate Issued In Husband's Name Cannot Impact Reservation Benefit When Error Was Committed By State: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has directed the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) to reconsider the candidature of a woman whose selection for the State Civil Services was rejected because the caste certificate uploaded by her had been issued on the basis of her husband's name.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Deepak Roshan held that the candidate could not be made to suffer for an error committed by the State authority while issuing the certificate, particularly when she subsequently produced...

Bihar Teacher Transfer Rules Give Preference To Spouses In Govt Service For Posting At Same Place: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has observed that the Bihar State Teachers Transfer Rules, 2026 specifically provide for preference in transfer where both spouses are in government service, and directed consideration of two teachers' requests for posting in the Patna Sadar Urban Region where their husbands work.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Harish Kumar directed the District Establishment Committee to consider the petitioners' transfer requests under the 2026 Rules and take a decision preferably within...